Boruto had been your childhood friend for as long as you could remember. Ever since you were around his age, you lived under the Hyuga roof. Though not truly a Hyuga by blood, you were something far more complex — the child of an Otsutsuki father and a kunoichi mother who died long ago.

You were raised among the Hyuga, trained alongside them, and became part of their daily life. Boruto and even his little sister had become like family. The bond you and Boruto shared grew stronger with every sparring session, every secret exchange under the stars — best friends, inseparable.

That was three years ago.

Now, the forest surrounded you in silence as you walked beside Boruto. You had just come from visiting Sasuke Uchiha — still sealed away in the God Tree. The memory of his calm, haunted eyes lingered in your thoughts.

Boruto walked ahead, eyes fixed forward, letting the breeze ruffle his hair. He could feel your gaze on him, your thoughts loud in the quiet.

"Hm?" he murmured, not turning, but knowing — you had something on your mind.